Pedro Pietri, (born March 21, 1944, Ponce, P.R.—died March 3, 2004, in flight from Mexico to New York, N.Y.) Puerto Rican poet and playwright who , inspired young Puerto Ricans living in New York City, called Nuyoricans, by composing poetry that instilled pride in their culture and heritage. His poems often reflected strong political views and denounced the political and social oppression of Nuyoricans in American society. In 1973 he helped to establish the Nuyorican Poets Café, where young Nuyoricans were able to recite their own poetry, and in that same year he published Puerto Rican Obituary, his most well-known epic poem.

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